SHIPPENSBURG Tesa McKibben didn't get that gold medal. But what she did get was two thirds and a second, solidifying one of the best scholastic careers in recent memory.
McKibben finished second in the 100 hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles, ending the weekend with three medals at the PIAA State Track and Field Championships in Shippensburg.
"I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't get a gold medal but I can't complain about two thirds and a second," McKibben said.
The 100-hurdle final pitted McKibben against defending state champion Antonia Ballard of Swenson. Ballard and McKibben both excelled in their respective semifinals, with Ballard running a 14.52 and McKibben a 15.1. In the final, Ballard ran a 14.33 to win another state title while McKibben held off Slippery Rock's Angela Shaffer to finish second. McKibben's time was 14.92. Her season best was 14.76.
"I kind of figured she was going to get first," McKibben said. "She's ridiculous. But to be a second behind her I felt pretty good. I just ran my race. That's all I wanted to do. I felt her right next to me but it was a good race. We pushed each other and we ended up getting second and third, respectively so it was nice."
In the 300 race, both McKibben and Ballard were topped by Paul Roberson's Katurah Hayman. The District 12 senior took first place with a 43.17 finish. Ballard finished second while McKibben, a district champion in the event last week with a district record 44.85, was third with a 44.99.
"I talked to her," McKibben said. "She wasn't here last year because she pulled a hamstring and she ran really well, 43.1, that's booking. I felt better yesterday than I did today but I'm happy with third. I took fifth last year, so it's an improvement."
If that wasn't enough, McKibben competed in the triple jump and was one spot away from medaling. She finished ninth with a 36-7.
When McKibben crossed the finished line of the 300 hurdles it ended a career that included four straight trips to states. She medaled seven times, two of them silvers. She also set three District 4 Class AA meet records last week at Shikellamy.
"I'm happy with it," McKibben said. "It could be more, could be less. I'm all right with it."
McKibben's also ends a stellar senior year. In the fall, McKibben was a key contributor to Montoursville's PIAA Class AA state soccer champion. In basketball, she added to her basketball scoring total, ending well over the 1,000-point plateau. And now, she finishes her track career with three more medals. McKibben will play soccer next fall at St. Francis College in Loretto.
